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EU NEWS YOU CAN USE
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European Commission in Ireland
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In this issue
- 11 January
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Top News
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Statement by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the passing away of Peter Sutherland
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In a statement following the death of Peter Sutherland earlier this week, President Juncker said: "I am deeply saddened by the passing away of Peter Sutherland, former European Commissioner, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and Attorney General of Ireland. In every sense of the word Peter Sutherland was a true European. He believed strongly in the work of the European Union and other international organisations and their importance for cooperation and international dialogue. He was one of the founding fathers of the Erasmus programme and was instrumental in shaping our internal market in the early days and competition policy as we know it today." Peter Sutherland served as European Commissioner for Competition from 1985-1989 in the first Delors Commission.
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Commissioner Hogan on Brexit
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Writing in the Irish Independent this week, Commissioner Phil Hogan warns of turbulence ahead in the Brexit negotiations: "...European unity has been remarkably strong. The union passed a difficult test and this is a source of satisfaction for all of us as we step towards the future. But, as I say, there's still turbulence ahead. The year ended on an upbeat. The divorce has been agreed but must now be turned into law. If the hallmark of a political compromise is that people can agree, even though they still hold slightly different views, the hallmark of law is that everyone knows what it means and that it means the same to all." Click on the link below to read the article.
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2018 - a decisive year for the EU and its future relationship with the UK
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In a speech at an event in Brussels earlier this week, EU Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said: "We are waiting for the United Kingdom to confirm, over the coming months, that we are working towards an ambitious free trade agreement and to tell us in which other areas it would like to cooperate. From our point of view, we think that in addition to trade, our partnership should include security, defence and foreign policy, as well as justice and home affairs and include some sectors such as aviation and fisheries."
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Commission wants to invest €1 billion in world-class European supercomputers
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The European Commission has unveiled plans to invest jointly with the Member States in building a world-class European supercomputers infrastructure. Supercomputers are needed to process ever larger amounts of data and bring benefits to the society in many areas from health care and renewable energy to car safety and cyber security. The EU will contribute around €486 million to the project matched by a similar amount from Member States and associated countries.
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Other news
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Commission priorities for 2018
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The College of Commissioners this week discussed its priorities for 2018 and the EU budget after 2020. The institutional priorities for this year include: reforming the Economic and Monetary Union, securing the EU's borders, overhauling the EU's asylum system, getting back to Schengen, completing the Digital Single Market, and bringing the Western Balkans closer to the Union. The Commission also discussed the next long-term budget for the EU – the Multiannual Financial Framework or "MFF" - after 2020 and launched a series of public consultations on the priorities of the EU that should be reflected in the next MFF (see below under Public Consultations).
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Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union
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Bulgaria took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Estonia on 1 January. This is the first time that Bulgaria holds the Presidency and marks a decade since its accession to the EU in 2007. The motto of the Bulgarian Presidency is "United we stand strong". The three priorities of the Presidency are: security, solidarity and stability. Bulgaria will hold the Presidency until 30 June 2018. Austria will take over from 1 July to 31 December 2018.
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Irish household spending on clothing and footwear below EU average
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Irish households devote a lower share of their total consumption expenditure to clothing and footwear than the EU average. In 2016, 3.9% of Irish households’ spending went on clothing and footwear, down from a high of 4.9% in 2005, and below the 2016 EU average of 4.9%. People in Estonia (6.8%) were top in terms of the share of total expenditure devoted to clothing and footwear while those in Romania (3.4%) and Bulgaria (3.2%) came in bottom. In real terms, Irish people are also spending less on clothing and footwear – an average of €700 in 2016, down from €900 in 2006 and below the EU average spend of €800. People in Luxembourg spent the most at €1,700 while people in Bulgaria spent the least at €100.
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EU strategy on Iraq
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The Commission has proposed an EU strategy on Iraq which will focus on delivering continued EU humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people and facilitating the stabilisation of areas liberated from ISIS, with three million displaced Iraqis still unable to return home. It also seeks to address the longer term reform, reconstruction and reconciliation efforts that Iraq needs to pursue in order to consolidate peace and build a united, democratic country in which all citizens can fully enjoy their rights in greater prosperity.
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Irish least likely to complain about noisy neighbours
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New Eurostat figures show that only 7.9% of Irish people complained about noise from neighbours in 2016, less than half the EU average of 17.9% and lowest in the EU. People from Malta (26.2%) and Germany (25.1%) were the most likely to complain about noisy neighbours. On average across the EU, people living in cities (23.3%) were far more likely to complain than those living in rural areas (10.4%). The figures also show that single people (20.8%) were the most likely to complain about noise.
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Share of Irish people who can’t afford to heat their home below EU average
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In 2016, 5.8% of Irish people reported that they were unable to heat their home sufficiently, down from a high of 10% in 2013 but still above the 3.5% share in 2007. The Eurostat figures show that, on average, 8.7% of Europeans said they were unable to heat their homes adequately in 2016 with Bulgaria (39%), Lithuania and Greece (both 29%) having the highest shares and Finland and Luxembourg the lowest (both 1.7%).
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Agenda
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Wednesday 10 to Saturday 13 January: EU Stand at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, RDS, Dublin
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The European Commission Representation and the European Parliament Information office in Ireland are hosting a stand at this year's BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Click on the link below to find out what's on offer at the stand, which is located in the Industries Hall.
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Monday 15 to Thursday 18 January: European Parliament Plenary Session, Strasbourg
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Click on the link below to see the agenda for this month's European Parliament session. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is scheduled to speak to the Parliament about the Future of Europe on Wednesday morning shortly after 8 am (Irish time). The speech will be broadcast live on Europe by Satellite: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm?date=01/17/2018&sitelang=en&page=2&institution=.
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Monday 22 January: Eurogroup meeting, Brussels
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The agenda for this meeting will be available in due course on the link below.
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Monday 22 January: Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
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The agenda for this meeting will be available in due course at the link below.
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Tuesday 23 January: Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Brussels
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The agenda for this meeting will be available in due course at the link below.
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Thursday 25 January: Video Games Funding Information Seminar, Dublin
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Creative Ireland is holding an Information Session in association with IMIRT (Irish Game Makers Association) on the Creative Europe Video Games Funding Scheme on Thursday 25 January in Drury Buildings, Dublin, from 10am to 1pm.
For further information or to register for the event, click on the link below.
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Thursday 25 January: Inaugural event “Brexit, Ireland and the Future of Europe”, Dublin
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The DCU Brexit Institute, in partnership with the European Movement Ireland, is hosting its Inaugural event on “Brexit, Ireland and the Future of Europe”, at DCU on 25 January 2018. The event will be opened by a Keynote Address on “The Future of Europe” by his Excellency Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland. Other keynote speakers include Hilary Benn, Chairman of the UK House of Commons Committee on Exiting the EU, Herman Van Rompuy, President emeritus of the European Council, and Helen McEntee, T.D, Minister of State for EU Affairs. For further information and to register, click on the link below.
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Monday 29 January: General Affairs Council (Art. 50), Brussels
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The agenda for this meeting will be available in due course at the link below.
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Monday 29 January: Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels
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The agenda for this meeting will be available shortly at the link below.
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Calls for Tender/Proposals
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Europe for Citizens - Call for Proposals is Now Open!
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The Wheel is the National Contact Point for the Europe for Citizens Programme, which helps promote understanding between the European Union and its citizens. It funds activities carried out by a range of not-for-profit organisations and local authorities across Europe.
A Call for Proposals under all strands (Civil Society Projects, European Remembrance, Town Twinning and Networks of Towns) is now open and closes on 1 March 2018. The 2018 priorities include: debating Euroscepticism; solidarity in times of crisis; combatting the stigmatisation of migrants; European Year of Cultural Heritage; and fostering debate on the future of Europe. For further information, click on the link below or contact Deirdre Finlay, European Programmes Coordinator at The Wheel: deirdref@wheel.ie.
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Job opportunities
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Applications now open for October 2018 traineeship session
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Applications are open until 31 January for the October 2018 graduate traineeship session at the EU Commission.
Successful candidates will get hands-on experience of working in an international and multicultural environment. They also receive a monthly grant of €1,176.83 and reimbursement of travel expenses. Accident and health insurance may also be provided. The latest figures show that there were 117 Irish trainees between 2012 and 2015.
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Public consultations
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Have your say on the EU budget after 2020
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The Commission has launched a series of public consultations on the funding priorities of the EU after 2020. The consultations are in the following funding areas: cohesion; strategic infrastructure; migration; investment, research and innovation, SMEs and single market; security; values and mobility. They are all open until 8 March 2018. EU Budget Commissioner, Günther H. Oettinger, said: "Our objective is to gather the views of as many people as possible and get a solid basis for preparing the next generation of EU programmes, making sure that every euro from the EU budget delivers maximum added value for the Europeans." Click on the link below for details.
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Halting the decline of bees and other pollinators
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The consultation aims to collect views on the decline of pollinators in order to inform the development of an EU initiative on pollinators. It is aimed at scientists, farmers and businesses, environmental organisations, public authorities and citizens. Commissioner Phil Hogan said: "Pollinators are too important for our food security and farming communities – as well as for life on the planet. We cannot afford to continue losing them." The consultation is open until 5 April 2018.
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This is the Newsletter of the Representation of the European Commission in Ireland.
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